ACCC sues Japan Airlines, Air NZ

The competition regulator has started legal action in the Federal Court against two more airlines alleging price fixing of air cargo prices.

Air New Zealand and Japan Airlines International Co became the 14th and 15th airlines to be charged with alleged price fixing in the air cargo industry, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a statement on Monday.

The ACCC alleges that between 2002 and 2006, both airlines entered into “arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of a fuel surcharge and a security surcharge that were applied to air cargo carried by them and other airlines."

“The ACCC alleges that arrangements or understandings were reached in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan for fuel surcharges applied to cargo originating in those countries," the ACCC said in the statement.

“The ACCC also alleges arrangements or understandings were reached in Singapore and Hong Kong for a security surcharge applied to cargo originating in those countries."

The ACCC said it was seeking declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties and costs.